North Star Therapy Animals

Therapy Animal Services in Minnesota

Donate
  • Who We Are
    • Therapy Animal Stars

      We are a group of dedicated volunteers who are passionate about therapy animal services and benefits they bring to individuals in our communities.

    • Who We Are

      • Our Story
      • Our Mission
      • Our Services
      • Meet Our Stars
      • Facilities We Visit
  • Become a Team
    • Wanted! More Teams

      We are looking for more therapy animal teams to join us. If you are interested in forming wonderful friendships, making treasured memories & finding personal fulfillment then you are in the right place!

    • Become a Team

      • Getting Started
      • Membership
      • FAQ
  • Our Animals
    • Leaving Paw Prints

      A therapy animal is a specially trained animal that partners with its human handler to volunteer at a variety of facilities and events, bringing joy, comfort, and companionship to those they meet.

    • Our Animals

      • Meet Our Stars
      • What is a therapy animal?
      • Who Uses Therapy Animal Services?
      • FAQ
  • News & Events
    • Therapy Animal Tales

      Read about the great work our teams are doing out in the field and stay up to date on what’s happening with the North Star Therapy Animals organization.

      Have a great story to share? Send us a note and let us know!

    • News & Events

      • News
      • Events
  • Request a Visit
    • We’d Love To Visit!

      Invite us over to bring happiness, companionship and courage to the people you work with.

    • Request a Visit

      • Request a Visit
      • Facilities We Visit
      • Our Services
  • Members
    • Membership Has Benefits

      Being a North Star Therapy Animal member has many benefits. You witness people make amazing transformations, your relationship with your animal grows and you also get to see what’s in this section!

    • Members

      • Member Login
  • Contact
    • Hello There!

      Want to learn more about North Star Therapy Animals? Fill out the contact form and we will get back to you.

    • Contact Us

      • Contact Form
      • Request a Visit
      • Become a Member

Dinah

Volunteer Since: 2008
Breed: Bichon Frise
Handler Name: Nancy Benson

Dinah is a calm, confident Bichon Frise. She focuses closely on each child who visits with her and is always gentle.

Nancy tutors kindergarten students individually in math. The children work solely with Nancy for a short time, and then get to sit on a blanket with both Nancy and Dinah together. It’s both a wonderful reward for the children as well as a chance to learn how to safely and kindly interact with an animal. Dinah greets each kindergartener by sticking out her right paw to shake hands. She allows the children to brush her fur, then does a huge body shake. The kids learn why she does this – to position her hairs to stand up in order to insulate her body. Some of the children fear dogs because they have only known them as guard dogs. The team discusses what to do when a strange dog approaches. Other times, a child just needs a hug – and Dinah always obliges.

Thursdays are spent at a kindergarten class in a school in north Minneapolis where poverty is prevalent. Dinah is a huge celebrity there, and may even be a modern legend. Students have told staff members that she has cured their allergies, and will place her paw on mispronounced words when students read to her. The team has also visited at senior care centers. Dinah is small enough that she can lie comfortingly on a lap or next to someone on a bed, providing warmth and comfort.

At home, Dinah is active and playful. She races through the house, growling and charging. She loves to wrestle with the other household dogs. Dinah is not interested in toys, but loves treats and knows just what needs to be done to earn one. She also makes plenty of time for sleep and will nap with anyone who lies down. At the end of the day, Dinah and her two fellow dogs enjoy time on the couch, cuddled next to legs, for the television news.


  • Abbey

  • Abby

  • Allie

  • Amaretto

  • Amber

  • Anika

  • Annie

  • Annie

  • Argo

  • Ariat

  • Asha

  • Aspen

  • Aspen

  • Ava

  • Bailey

  • Bailey

  • Bailey

  • Bailey

  • Bala

  • Ballad

  • Barney

  • Bear

  • Beatrice

  • Bella

  • Bella

  • Benji

  • Benny

  • Bentley

  • BiBi

  • Birdie

  • Biscuit

  • Bishop

  • Blayze

  • Blu

  • Bode

  • Bogie

  • Bohdi

  • Boudie

  • Breeze

  • Brielle

  • Brit

  • Bruce

  • Brutus

  • Bubba

  • Buddy

  • Buddy

  • Buff

  • Bunny

  • Caleigh

  • Captain

  • Carlita

  • Cash

  • Cash

  • Casper

  • Cassanova

  • Cedar

  • Charlie

  • Charlie

  • Charly

  • Chekhov

  • Chilli

  • Chiquita & Bonita

  • Chloe

  • Clever

  • Cloey

  • Coco

  • Coco

  • Cola

  • Colby

  • Colby

  • Cooper

  • Cooper

  • Cooper

  • Corky

  • Cruiser

  • D’Ari

  • Daisy

  • Daisy Duke

  • Dante

  • Daphne

  • Dash

  • Derby

  • Dickens

  • Diesel

  • Dinah

  • Diva

  • Dixi

  • Dora

  • Dora

  • Dottie

  • Dottie Pepper

  • Drake

  • Dudley

  • Duke

  • Eddi

  • Eddi

  • Ellie

  • Ellie

  • Emmy Lou

  • Emsky

  • Enja

  • Faith

  • Farley

  • Frankie

  • Frannie

  • Fred

  • Geddy Lee

  • Georgie

  • Getty

  • Gilly

  • Glenn

  • Glinda

  • Goldy

  • Goose

  • Gopher

  • Griffey

  • Gus

  • Gus

  • Halsey

  • Hanukkah Harry

  • Hastings

  • Henri

  • Henry

  • Herbie

  • Hippo

  • Holly

  • Hope

  • Howie

  • Huntley

  • Indie

  • Indy

  • Itzy

  • Ivy

  • Izzy

  • Izzy

  • Izzy

  • Jackson

  • Jake

  • Jake

  • Jasmine

  • Jasper

  • Jazzmin

  • Jem

  • Jess

  • Jesse

  • Jet

  • Jewel

  • Jimmy

  • Jive

  • Jude

  • Kali

  • Karma

  • Katie

  • Kenzie

  • Kierka

  • Kimber

  • Kirby

  • Kirby

  • Klooney

  • Kobe

  • Kodi

  • Korte

  • Krickie

  • Lacey

  • Lacey

  • Ladybug

  • Lavendar

  • Leo

  • Leo

  • Levi

  • Liberty

  • Lila

  • Lily

  • Lily

  • Lily

  • Lily

  • Loki

  • Lola

  • Lola

  • London

  • Louie

  • Louie

  • Lucille Ball

  • Lucky

  • Lucy

  • Lucy

  • Lucy

  • Lulu

  • Luna

  • Luna

  • Luna

  • Mabel

  • Mable

  • Mac

  • Maggie

  • Maggie Mae

  • Mandy

  • Margot

  • Marley

  • Martha

  • Martha

  • Maverick

  • Max

  • Max

  • Maya

  • Mazie

  • Merry Luna

  • Mia

  • Miles

  • Millie

  • Milo

  • Milo

  • Milo

  • Milo

  • Minnie

  • Miss Darcy

  • Molly

  • Molly

  • Molly May

  • Mona

  • Moritz

  • Mowgli

  • Murphy

  • Murphy

  • Murray

  • Myshkin

  • Nata Lux

  • Neka

  • Nephew

  • Nevsky

  • Nibbles

  • Nick

  • Nugget

  • Oakly

  • Oliver

  • Oliver

  • Ollie

  • Ollie

  • Ollie

  • Oreo

  • Oscar

  • Ozzy

  • Panda

  • Panda Ann

  • Passion

  • Peach

  • Penni

  • Peyton

  • Phoebe

  • Piper

  • Piper

  • Pippa

  • Pluto

  • Pookha

  • Rafa

  • Raina

  • Ramone

  • Ranger

  • Razzel

  • Reggie

  • Remington

  • Remmie

  • Remy

  • Reyna

  • Rhoda

  • Rider

  • Riley

  • Riley

  • River

  • Robbie

  • Rocky

  • Rogue

  • Rosie

  • Rosie

  • Rosie

  • Rosie

  • Rubeus

  • Ruby

  • Ruby

  • Rupa

  • Rusty

  • Ruthie

  • Rye

  • Rye

  • S’mores

  • Sam

  • Sam

  • Sammy

  • Sarah

  • Sari

  • Sasha

  • Sasha

  • Sasha

  • Sasha

  • Sassy

  • Savannah

  • Serena

  • Shadow

  • Shamus

  • Sherlock

  • Simon

  • Smokey

  • Sofie

  • Sofie

  • Solo

  • Sonya

  • Sparks

  • Squirrel

  • Stella

  • Stella

  • Sterling

  • Stetson

  • Stitches

  • Storm

  • Suki

  • Sully

  • Sunny

  • Surly

  • Sweet Pea

  • Taelis

  • Tanzy

  • Taz

  • Ted

  • Teddy

  • Teddy

  • Teddy

  • Teddy Bear

  • Thor

  • Tillie

  • Tillie

  • Tilly

  • Toby

  • Tolstoy

  • Toto & Munchkin

  • Trigger

  • Trina

  • Trotsky

  • Truffles

  • Truman

  • Tucker

  • Tucker

  • Tula Bea

  • Valentine

  • Venus

  • Vinny

  • Welby

  • Wexford

  • Whiteout

  • Willow

  • Wilson

  • Wilson

  • Winston

  • Zara

  • Zelda

  • Zeus

  • Zoe

  • Zoey

All North Star Therapy Animals are registered with Pet Partners.

Copyright © 2023 · North Star Therapy Animals. All rights reserved.
Built by Westwords

X
X
X